That Rugby Union Show

Has South Africa already won Rugby's Greatest Rivalry? The Springboks leave home 2–1 up after three extraordinary Tests against the All Blacks — but there's still the small matter of a fourth match in… Baltimore. Xola Ntshinga and Simnikiwe Xabanisa are joined by Westley Cockrell, better known as Rugby-kaans , to talk about a series that has become about much more than results. Westley exp...

And if you don’t know… now you know. The Springboks have beaten the All Blacks 29–24 at FNB Stadium — and somehow this extraordinary series has produced another classic. New Zealand started at frightening speed. The Boks lost Cheslin Kolbe early. The All Blacks threatened from everywhere. But South Africa stayed alive, turned the screw at scrum time and eventually found the tries they had been mis...

The series is level at 1–1. Now the Springboks and All Blacks head to FNB Stadium for a third Test that could change the complexion of Rugby's Greatest Rivalry completely. Xola Ntshinga and Simnikiwe Xabanisa look beyond a week dominated by the war of words between Rassie Erasmus and Dave Rennie and get into the rugby. Has the scrum controversy become a tactical attempt to influence how the ga...

The Boks have answered. Now we have a series. South Africa beat New Zealand 33–26 in Cape Town to level the series at 1–1 — but Xola Ntshinga and Simnikiwe Xabanisa aren't convinced the performance was as radically different from Ellis Park as the result might suggest. The Springboks were physically dominant for long periods in Test One too. The difference this time? They converted. South Afri...

Ding, ding. Round Two. And suddenly Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu is back in the fight. After New Zealand's 33–16 victory at Ellis Park , the Springboks head to Cape Town 1–0 down and needing a response. Rassie Erasmus initially appeared to have chosen experience for the rematch. Handré Pollard at 10. Cobus Reinach at nine. Siya Kolisi back. Malcolm Marx starting. Ox Nché restored to the front row...

The All Blacks came. They saw. They conquered Ellis Park. New Zealand beat the Springboks 33–16 to take a 1–0 lead in Rugby's Greatest Rivalry — but the final score doesn't tell the whole story. Xola Ntshinga and Simnikiwe Xabanisa unpack a bizarre Test in which South Africa appeared physically dominant for much of the opening half, won the early scrum and collision battles and created eno...

The talking is over. The teams are named. Now, we go to war. The Springboks and All Blacks meet at Ellis Park in the opening Test of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry , and Xola Ntshinga and Simnikiwe Xabanisa are joined by Stormers assistant coach Rito Hlungwani to break down exactly where New Zealand can be hurt. Having helped devise the Stormers’ plan against the All Blacks, Rito identifies three key pr...

The Springboks escaped Buenos Aires with a 17–10 victory over Argentina , but this was anything but comfortable. Xola Ntshinga and Simnikiwe Xabanisa break down a bruising Test in which Argentina matched South Africa physically, challenged the Boks tactically and remained alive right to the death — while the Bok defence ultimately did enough to secure another victory. Was an ugly win in Buenos Air...

The All Blacks are back in South Africa for the first traditional tour in decades—but according to Rassie Erasmus, everyone is looking too far ahead. Xola Ntshinga and Simnikiwe Xabanisa discuss the significance of New Zealand's return, preview the Stormers' challenge against the All Blacks, and examine why the Springboks' trip to Argentina may be the most important match before Rugby&...

Argentina is the next opponent, but the conversation is really about what comes afterwards. With the Greatest Rivalry Tour drawing closer, Xola Ntshinga and Julian examine the Springboks' evolving selection picture and ask which players have already secured their places—and which still have everything to play for. The discussion explores Rassie Erasmus' latest squad decisions, the return o...

The first block of the inaugural Nations Championship is complete, and the Springboks now turn their attention to the next phase of the international season. Xola Ntshinga and Simnikiwe Xabanisa review whether the new competition has achieved what World Rugby hoped, discuss the travel challenges facing northern hemisphere teams, and debate whether rugby is finally moving towards a genuine global s...

The Springboks have completed another convincing Test victory—but the bigger story may be the extraordinary depth Rassie Erasmus continues to build. Xola Ntshinga and Simnikiwe Xabanisa break down South Africa's performance against Wales, the impact of the newest Springbok caps, and what the latest selections tell us about the road towards the Rugby Championship and Rugby World Cup 2027. The c...

This week on That Rugby Union Show , Xola Ntshinga and Simnikiwe Xabanisa unpack another bold Springbok team selection as Rassie Erasmus hands four players their Test debuts against Wales. But the bigger discussion isn't simply who has been selected—it's how South Africa continues to produce world-class Test players at a rate unmatched in international rugby. Is the Springbok "factory...

This week on That Rugby Union Show , Xola Ntshinga and Simnikiwe Xabanisa unpack another impressive Springbok victory over England before looking ahead to Scotland's challenge in the second Test. The guys discuss the Bok breakdown dominance, the growing injury concerns around key players, and what Rassie's side still needs to improve despite another convincing performance. They also dive i...

Welcome back to That Rugby Union Show — and tonight we’re deep-diving into the chaos that is South African rugby’s new secret weapon:the 15th man… who’s actually already off the field. Yes, the Boks are back in action against Ireland — and after last week’s “14 men is enough” masterclass, Xola and Sim unpack whether South Africa genuinely plays better when someone’s in the changeroom drinking Guin...

The Springboks got it done in Paris — and Xola Ntshinga & Sim Xabanisa break down everything from an emotional, physical, beautifully ugly South Africa vs France showdown. This episode covers: How the Boks controlled the chaos and forced France to play on South Africa’s terms France’s emotional overload — the spy talk, the leaks, the revenge story, and why it all backfired exactly as predicted...

South Africa have done it again. The Springboks retained the Rugby Championship after a nail-biting 29–27 win over Argentina at Twickenham , clinching the title on points difference. Both the Boks and All Blacks finished on 19 log points, but Rassie’s men held their superior +57 margin to keep the crown. Xola and Sim break down every moment from Twickenfontein — no guests, just straight Bok analys...

Xola Ntshinga and Sim Xabanisa break down a massive Test week as the Springboks take on France in Paris — loaded with history, emotion and two years of simmering tension. With Siya Kolisi’s 100th Test and Rassie Erasmus’ 50th , the stakes couldn’t be higher. In this episode: Kolisi’s centurion form France’s spy allegations and leaked team drama Rassie’s mind-games Missing DuPont, Aldritt omission,...

Rugby is entering a new era. Xola Ntshinga and Sim Xabanisa unpack SANZAAR’s bold 2026–2030 plan — the pause of The Rugby Championship, the rise of the Nations Cup, and the move toward a global season. Pat Lambie joins the show to reflect on the changes, player safety, and the next evolution of the game. From concussion awareness to the All Blacks’ massive 2026 tour, this episode dives deep into r...

In this episode, Xola Ntshinga speaks with former Springbok flyhalf André Pretorius , who now coaches in Japan’s League One. Pretorius reflects on the toughest lesson of his career — the Test he says he “lost for South Africa” — and how that moment shaped his philosophy as a coach. He shares rare insight into Jake White’s influence , the importance of discomfort in elite rugby, and the emotional i...

This weekend, it’s squeaky bum time for every Bok fan from Bellville to Bloem. The Rugby Championship title hangs in the balance — and all roads lead to Twickenfontein, where the Springboks face Argentina with everything on the line. Xola and Sim, no fluff — just pure Bok brainpower and banter as they break down the final round. 🇿🇦 Boks on the Brink South Africa sit top with 15 points after torchi...

The dust has barely settled — and the Springboks have left Durban smoking. In this post-game breakdown, we unpack everything that mattered from a massive weekend of rugby. 🇿🇦 Boks in Full Beast Mode South Africa smashed Argentina 67–30 , turning a tight first half into a second-half bloodbath. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu made history, scoring 37 points — the most ever by a Bok in a single Test. Trie...

Springbok legend Naas Botha joins That Rugby Union Show to unpack the Boks’ epic win over New Zealand — and what it really means for world rugby. Is this the end of All Blacks dominance… or just a team in transition? In this episode: 🇿🇦 Springboks’ new game plan — why it’s working.🇳🇿 All Blacks in crisis? Naas tells it straight.💰 Rugby’s broken system — why the sport must be run like a billion-do...

This week, the Rugby Championship turned upside down: Boks Smash ABs in Wellington South Africa inflicted New Zealand’s worst ever home defeat, storming to a 43–10 win. Six tries, a second-half demolition, and a historic Springbok statement that left the All Blacks reeling. Pumas Edge Wallabies Argentina shocked Australia 28–26 in Sydney. The Wallabies looked ready to close it out, but Carreras an...

This week on That Rugby Union Show : Eden Park Fortress — The All Blacks extend their streak to 51 unbeaten at Eden Park with a 24–17 win over the Springboks. Narawa and Jordan struck early, Tupaea sealed it, and Robertson’s men defended like demons. Kolisi’s return wasn’t enough to break the Auckland curse. Wallabies vs Pumas Chaos — Angus Bell crashes over in stoppage time to give Australia a dr...